"Be Bold and Follow the Fun" - Esther's Entrepreneurial Journey - The MultiPod 104
Release Date: 09/01/2023
The MultiPod
Our podcast miniseries comes to an end, with some reflection on the Everything Conference experience, takeaways, calls to action and next steps. With all the business and routine of getting back to every day life, the Everything Conference may feel like a mirage, a fantasy. Did that really happen? Did I dream it? Or in truth, did it just go by too fast and I didn't take the time to appreciate it? I think I can honestly say that not only have these worries not come true, I feel like we're all actively ensuring that the ETC 2024 is still alive and well. Message threads remain active, online and...
info_outline ETC series, Ep. 16 - A Lifetime of Changes, Surprises and Pivots, with Ned Andrew SolomonThe MultiPod
Our initial ETC series comes to a conclusion with a conversation with the one and only Ned Andrew Solomon, whose life is a wonderful example to multipotentialites, and who was a delightful addition to the . Ned came with his wife Gina Lynette, a familiar friend to those of us in and/or at the . It was an easy ask to get Ned Andrew to come along to this year's conference. Once we get past some initial existentialist comparison regarding our names, we quickly get into Ned's winding path of interest jobs, make-ends-meet jobs, and ultimately a great Einstein job that gave the family...
info_outline ETC series, Ep. 15 - When You Don't Have to Explain Who You Are, with Lindsay GordonThe MultiPod
Little did I know that just a couple weeks before the , Lindsay Gordon herself was in Montreal for a visit, just up the road from my little town. So our conversation today launches straight into the French language, the experience of English speakers when visiting (particularly the different experience between Americans and English Canadians when in Montreal), and how the French in Québec is different from that in France. And Lindsay in fact spent a year in Belgium way back when, who have their own dialectical differences. That was just the prelude to our conversation. I do...
info_outline ETC series, Ep. 14 - Exploring Cultural Differences in Multipotentiality: The Japanese Perspective, with Tomoko ItoThe MultiPod
I crossed paths with Tomoko Ito at the , but not as much as I had hoped to, so comes to the rescue again with a chance to follow up with each other and record a conversation. Tomoko is now back home in the LA area, where she maintains strong connections to her native Japan. I wasn't aware that she is a business coach for Japanese multipotentialites, which raised some interesting questions and curiosity about how multipotentiality is viewed and understood in Japan, if there are strong cultural differences between Japan and North America, at least, and how people adapt over there. ...
info_outline ETC series, Ep. 13 - "Our Presence Liberates Others" - Finding Trust, Empathy and Joy at the ETC, with Heather U-KThe MultiPod
I've known Heather U-K for over 7 years, she predates me in by about a year and a half. She's been on the a couple times, we cross paths in huddles and online , and various groups and discussions. In fact, we've "known" each other so long that it almost felt like we had already met! But of course, this was another one of those goosebump moments: seeing Heather herself walk in, right there in front of me. She's taller than I expected! Heather and I hung out a bit over the course of the weekend, attended a couple workshops together, I showed her over to a fabulous secret coffee...
info_outline ETC series, Ep. 12 - Staying Connected: Nurturing Relationships After the Everything Conference, with Alyson WagnerThe MultiPod
Our series switches now a bit to the post-ETC reality: back home, back to regular routines and just trying to preserve as much of that wonderful spirit as possible. On the plus side, the audio experience will be much better... I was a little disappointed with the quality of the lavalier lapel mics I bought before the conference, they sounded far more muffled and dampened than they should have. Tech and equipment can be a little hit and miss sometimes, but we can just keep testing and learning for the future. My thanks again to for his help and expertise with the audio repair. ...
info_outline ETC series, Ep. 11 - Thoughts on the ETC, on the Final NightThe MultiPod
Today is Sunday, August 4th. The Everything Conference has just come to an end. Or, has it? ---- Yes, we are heading home, or on to our next destination, tomorrow. But in this episode of reflection, post-ETC, I sit down in a quiet corner of the University of Minnesota campus, around 10 o'clock at night, crickets chirping and a gentle breeze blowing past, to start the process of reflection. One can only comprehend so much, so quickly, after an intense and emotional weekend such as this. But that in turn may be a reason why the Everything Conference spirit will continue in earnest,...
info_outline ETC series, Ep. 10 - From Online to In-Person: How Meeting Face-to-Face Transforms Relationships, with Joel ZaslofskyThe MultiPod
One of the highlights of the Everything Conference for me was to be able to sit down, in person, with Joel Zaslofsky and record a podcast episode together. We had in fact met already, just over a year ago when he and his wife Melinda came to Montreal, and I popped into town for the better part of a day. We had lunch and explored the city a bit, but it wasn't the best moment to do any recording. So this time, we made sure to make it happen. I have Joel to thank for getting me set up in podcasting in the first place, way back in 2017 when I asked him if we could start a...
info_outline ETC series, Ep. 9 - Minnesota Nice & Hidden Gems: A Local's Perspective on the Twin Cities, with Rachel BlanfordThe MultiPod
Our next episode dives into our host city, or I should probably say cities: Minneapolis-St. Paul. Now, technically we are in Minneapolis for the Everything Conference, as the is on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis (side note I don't know if I've ever seen so many Ms and Ns in one place as over this weekend). But are we obligated to mention St. Paul at least at some point whenever we mention Minneapolis? Or just say "Twin Cities"? Does the other one feel left out otherwise? In order to sort this out, one must talk to a local. We are blessed to have quite a...
info_outline ETC series, Ep. 8 - The Skill of Pivoting: Branding, Identity and Organization as a Multipotentialite Creator, with Christine LozadaThe MultiPod
In this conversation I sit down with Christine Lozada, travel content creator and influencer, podcaster, drone expert, pickleball aficionado, cruising rock star and more, who is able to successfully wrap all of this up under one banner: . Christine and I met at Camp Indie in 2023, and have done some great podcasting exchanges since, including our own miniseries, "." This episode is our latest collaboration. Christine is a wonderfully supportive and encouraging friend, who is great at nudging us to take action, give it a shot, press record, try the thing: you can do it. This one...
info_outlineEsther Bennett embarked on an entrepreneurial life a few years ago, delving into coaching fellow entrepreneurs with their businesses. She relishes the challenge of taking ideas to the next level, identifying strengths and helping people transform, to make the most of their potential.
Her own challenge however came down to learning how to focus on specific ideas and offers for her own business, which, as we know, can be a bit of a struggle for multipotentialites when there are just so many paths you can choose, and that you are capable of choosing.
On this new episode of The MultiPod, Esther and today's host Ted get into an engaging discussion about Esther's take on multipotentiality, and how we each find our own way of identifying with it. For her, it's not necessarily about trying as many things as possible, but maintaining enough variety to not be stuck into doing just one thing. Her business life has allowed her to see what works and what's sustainable for her life and habits.
Nicheing down, pricing, marketing, project work and trial offers are all themes that we chat about today. Esther combines her business pursuits with a part-time job, for the variety and the social contact. But she knows she will never work full-time for someone else again! The freedom and possibilities of being an entrepreneur are too enticing.
We also chat a bit about life in the Netherlands, green space and cycling, and the ever-intriguing concept of space and distance. And, for all of our Dutch speakers, check out Esther's own podcast about entrepreneurship, making choices, taking action and having fun!
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